PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ratimir Yenin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Filipe Acosta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yenin comes to the cage accompanied by Apocalyptica - Enter Sand Man. Acosta has chosen Saw Theme as his entrance music. Ratimir Yenin has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Yenin
vs
Acosta

150 cm
28
140 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

170 cm
21
160 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ratimir Yenin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Filipe Acosta!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Luis Engracia and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yenin takes one to the chin there.
Yenin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Acosta avoids it really well and circles away.
Acosta with a jab.
Yenin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Acosta throws a looping overhand right but Yenin ducks down to avoid it.
Nice takedown defense from Acosta. No joy for Yenin on that attempt.
Yenin throws a lazy uppercut
and Acosta counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yenin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Acosta tries to avoid it but Yenin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Acosta to the ground. Acosta escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Acosta looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ratimir Yenin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Yenin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Acosta tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Acosta gets through Yenin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Yenin turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Yenin manages to end up in side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Acosta is not content to let Yenin control the position.
Yenin misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yenin laying and praying for a moment but Acosta takes advantage and regains half guard.
Yenin wants to free his trapped foot but Acosta is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Yenin is trying to control. Acosta wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Yenin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Acosta is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Acosta really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Yenin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Yenin is looking for a kimura here.

Yenin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Acosta sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Yenin wants to take a breather but Acosta is having none of it.

Yenin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Yenin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Acosta defends it well.
Acosta is controlling Yenin's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Acosta is refusing to be controlled, as Yenin sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acosta is looking to control Yenin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Acosta avoid being mounted?

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ratimir Yenin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Acosta stuffs the takedown attempt from Yenin. Yenin gets slowly back to his feet.
Acosta looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Yenin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Acosta is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Acosta keeps the fight on the outside.
Yenin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Yenin fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Acosta to the ground. Yenin is now in Acosta's guard.
Yenin won't allow Acosta to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yenin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Acosta swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yenin passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sloppy strikes there by Yenin.

Yenin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Yenin is looking to take a break and control but Acosta is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Acosta is trying to control Yenin's posture but Yenin avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ratimir Yenin will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Yenin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Acosta.
Yenin changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Yenin's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Acosta connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Yenin scrambles back to his feet.
Yenin ducks under a wild hook from Acosta.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yenin.
Yenin shoots in looking for a takedown. Acosta tries to sprawl out of it but Yenin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Acosta manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yenin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Acosta manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Yenin takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Yenin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Acosta moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yenin slips under a jab.
Acosta fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Acosta keeps the fight on the outside.
Ratimir Yenin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Acosta throws out a loose jab but Yenin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Acosta throws out a loose jab but Yenin uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acosta connects with the punch.
Yenin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yenin drops down looking for a counter takedown but Acosta sprawls and moves away.
Acosta missing with a left hand there. Yenin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yenin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Acosta takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yenin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Acosta pinned against the cage. Acosta gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ratimir Yenin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yenin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yenin ducks under a wild hook from Acosta.

Yenin gets a takedown into half guard.
Yenin tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Acosta.
Yenin trying to pass the guard but Acosta defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yenin is looking for a kimura but Acosta is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Yenin to get the leverage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Acosta can do anything to dispel that myth.
Yenin has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Acosta is trying desperately to improve position.
Yenin looking to land elbow strikes but Acosta uses the position to regain half guard.
Acosta wants to improve his position but Yenin is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yenin is trying to control the action in half guard but Acosta is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Yenin works his way into side control.

Yenin tries for a kimura but Acosta is defending well.
Ratimir Yenin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yenin has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Acosta!
Acosta manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Acosta is refusing to be controlled, as Yenin sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yenin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Acosta trying to control from the bottom.
Yenin slows the pace down in half guard.
Acosta is looking to get back to full guard here but Yenin has managed to pass to side control instead.

Yenin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Yenin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Yenin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Acosta has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Filipe Acosta will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Yenin shoots in for a takedown but Acosta shows good takedown defense.
Yenin shoots in looking for a takedown but Acosta manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Yenin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Acosta stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ratimir Yenin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Acosta displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yenin.
Acosta fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Yenin on the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yenin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yenin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Acosta is fending him off so far but Yenin persists. Nope, Acosta circles away and we're back to standing.
Yenin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
It seemed like Acosta was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yenin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Acosta.
Yenin moves out of range of the strikes.
Yenin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A big left from Acosta misses.
Yenin is looking to clinch but Acosta is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acosta throws a hook but Yenin avoids it easily.
Yenin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Yenin shoots in for a takedown but Acosta shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Acosta looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Acosta throws a lazy uppercut
and Yenin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yenin wants to clinch up but Acosta keeps it at a distance.
Acosta waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yenin.
Yenin slips under a jab.

Yenin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Yenin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Acosta has managed to free his arm - good work.

Yenin wants to work for an arm triangle but Acosta is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Acosta wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acosta keeping control of the position.
Yenin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Acosta won't allow Yenin to pass to mount.

Yenin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Acosta sees it coming and defends easily.

Yenin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Acosta doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Yenin.
It looks like Yenin is going to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yenin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Yenin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Acosta keeps working.

Yenin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Acosta has managed to free his arm - good work.
Acosta blocking the ground and pound attempt from Yenin.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
No luck for Yenin with that takedown attempt.
A slow jab from Acosta misses its intended target.
Yenin moves out of range of the strikes.
Yenin has a takedown stuffed.
Yenin slips a jab from Acosta.
Yenin is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Acosta leaves Yenin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yenin tries to clinch up but Acosta circles away and keeps his distance.
Yenin doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Acosta to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Filipe Acosta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Acosta has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Filipe Acosta!
Ratimir Yenin was interviewed post fight and said 'I would like to thank my fans for the support. As well as my fight camp, trainers and my manager. I take this loss but promise all of you I will be back to bring it!'.